Detailed Summary
Carboxylic acids are compounds characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group (-COOH), which exhibits greater acidity than alcohols and simple phenols. This elevation in acidity is attributed to the resonance stabilization of the carboxylate ion formed when carboxylic acids dissociate in water, leading to the formation of hydronium ions (H₃O⁺).
The section provides insights into the following key aspects:
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Acidity: Carboxylic acids can react with metals to evolve hydrogen and with strong bases to form carboxylate salts. Their acidity is measured by the dissociation constant (Kᴀ), which can be simplified to pKₐ for convenience. The relationship indicates that lower pKₐ values correlate with stronger acids.
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Dissociation in Water: The dissociation of carboxylic acids in aqueous solutions leads to resonance-stabilized carboxylate anions. The equilibrium constant (Kᵃ) depicts this transformation, reinforcing the understanding of carboxylic acids as weak acids.
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Relative Acidity Comparison: The section contrasts the acidity levels between various carboxylic acids influenced by functional groups. Electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) enhance acidity through inductive and resonance effects, while electron-donating groups (EDGs) and structural configurations can alter the acidity negatively.
Overall, this section highlights the fundamental principles that grasp the behavior of carboxylic acids during O–H bond cleavage and their subsequent chemical reactions.